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Professional help with caulking
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newbite
Joined: Nov '09
Posts: 6offline
Posted 3 years ago
Tue Dec 29 2009 3:06:52
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Anyone know of someone (someone GOOD of course) who could be hired to help with caulking a prewar NYC apartment?
We just had our 2nd thermal treatment (much more thorough than the 1st, so hopefully it will be successful), but I am terrified that the bugs could enter from another apartment. Even if that was not the source of our current problem, it could happen in the future....
I've done a lot of reading on caulking & products here, but what with working full time and having a 2 year old running around who I wouldn't want to have around during the process - I'd love to hire someone to do it for us.
This would be a BIG job, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if it took a few days. I would be able to do the painting afterwards myself, it's just the caulking....
Has anyone done this? Was it a PCO? Housepainter? Handyman? (Just someone handy?)
Is this an untapped market? Anyone out of work want to start their own company?
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bait
senior member
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 559offline
Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 30 2009 1:28:14
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Don't you want to use your super or his workers?
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et
newbite
Joined: Nov '09
Posts: 6offline
Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 30 2009 13:20:31
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Interesting idea....
I actually don't trust the building people to be thorough enough
I was someone who wants to take the time needed to go over every inch of the place & do what needs to be done.
Problem areas I forsee: there are cracks all over the original parquet hardwood floor & I'm not prepaired to put a new floor over top (I think that would be more costly/time consuming anyway). Also there are 2 old fashioned fuse boxes in the apartment that are uncovered & I have no idea how to manage closing them off while still allowing access.
I was thinking to hire a painter, but not for the painting part (I have no problem doing that myself).
Since no one has offered up a name yet, I will see what I can come up with & post back with info for others if I find someone good
Thanks -
oldtimer
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 2,545offline
Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 30 2009 23:29:57
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My Company does this. I don't have any immediate availability but I'll post the prep sheet here for you with info regarding some of the steps. I’m booked out about 3 weeks right now. You can PM if you would like to discuss it.
Nobugs, if this is out of line .. you can delete my post.
BOOT A PEST Inc. P: 516-481-PEST Email: Bedbugwarrior@yahoo.com
New York's Best Bed Bug Exterminator - NY Magazine “Best of New York” 2009Preparation for DE Applications and Seal up Work.
The application of diatomaceous earth inside of wall voids, cracks, crevices, voids around plumbing lines, electrical lines, heating lines, door and window frame moldings, is an excellent prevention measure for any migrating insect. These treated areas will help reduce the chance of Bed Bugs looking to migrate or harbor in said locations.
Following the DE application by sealing these areas with expandable foams, heat resistant sealers, and latex silicone, will reduce the chance of being a victim of an infestation from another unit. While I can’t say with 100% certainty just how much you will reduce the chance, I would estimate you will lock Bed Bugs out of your apartment anywhere from 85 to 90 percent.
This type of preventative treatment and seal up work will also help your neighbors in the event you bring Bed Bugs into your apartment from the outside. Based on the habits of inseminated females, migration is always a concern in apartment buildings. It’s been said that up to sixty percent of people don’t show reactions to Bed Bug bites, if this is the case with you migration will likely happen to surrounding apartments. Fighting an infestation from one apartment is much easier not to mention less expensive for the building when this preventative treatment and seal up work is done.
Below you will find some information regarding the product that will be used for the crack, crevice, and void treatment within your apartment. Please follow the preparation requirements and have all the work completed prior to my arrival. Unless told otherwise, people and pets must remain out of the residence for eight (8) hours. If you want your apartment locked after the treatment is complete, please see that a spare key is available from the super or left with me. This only applies if you have a door I can’t secure or lock after I leave.
I will need access to the baseboards inside each room and every closet you want treated. If you have belongings on the floor in the closets, you can store these items inside trash bags or boxes. Once that’s done please move them to the center of the room. When you return home you can put everything back where it belongs.
Built-in closets or furniture limit the application in some cases. These areas will be addressed accordingly. Bookcases should be emptied where possible; you can stack books in the center of the room. This will allow us to move the bookcase away from the wall and apply DE and sealant to the areas behind them.
Make sure that all food and dishes are put away and off the counters in the kitchen. Empty out the cabinet below the kitchen sink so that we can gain access to the plumbing. I also ask that the kitchen sink be free of dishes as we will be using this area to rinse tools off and wash our hands often. The sink will be cleaned before we leave. Empty any bathroom vanities where plumbing lines need to be treated and sealed up. Pet food bowls should be removed from the floor and stored away until the treatment is complete. Please cover the top of any aquarium tanks with plastic wrap and turn off any air pumps.
Please vacuum along the baseboards before my arrival. Dust and dirt will clog my equipment and result in a less effective application rate. If you want to move any furniture away from the wall a three foot space will be needed. We always expect to move the furniture ourselves but some people choose to do so themselves. It’s up to you.
Each person will receive a billing invoice and a product label of the DE being used. If you would like a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), please let me know prior to your appointment.
Product information:
MotherEarth D is a diatomaceous earth product that offers broad spectrum, long lasting control against a wide range of pests. It is a desiccant dust which is mined directly from Mother Earth and controls pests by causing dehydration.
• Highly absorptive desiccant dust
• 100% high purity freshwater diatomaceous earth
• Long lasting dust provides continuous protection from pests
• Easily covers cracks, crevices, and voids
• Mined straight from Mother Earth for your sensitive accountsTreatment Technique: Void, C&C (crack and crevice)
Active Ingredient: Diatomaceous Earth
Insecticide Class: Inorganic
Signal Word: CAUTION
Food Handling: YES
Registration: Registration Pending in CA
Product Code: 02-1001
02-1000 (unavailable in Horticultural market)
EPA #: 499-509MotherEarth D consists of 100% diatomaceous earth which is the fossilized skeletal remains of single celled phytoplankton commonly referred to as diatoms. It works by dehydrating insects through a desiccating action. The absorptive properties of the fossilized cell-walls easily remove the cuticle’s outer waxy layer. This results in the loss of an insect’s ability to maintain proper fluid levels–ultimately leading to death.
MotherEarth D provides outstanding efficacy with twice the surface area of other typical diatomaceous earth products (69 m2/gcompared to 10-30 m2/g). This means MotherEarth D has a larger pore volume weight ratio and much higher absorbent properties. This freshwater diatomaceous earth applies evenly in cracks, crevices and voids.
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bugbuster
junior member
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 108offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Dec 31 2009 0:06:57
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KillerQueen spent his day in my apartment today doing just this. And he and I can attest that my apartment was a challenge, in terms of age, size and clutter. From what I can see, no baseboard was left uncaulked. This was purely preventive on my part, but I think it will be worth it.
Thanks again KQ!!
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et
newbite
Joined: Nov '09
Posts: 6offline
Posted 3 years ago
Mon Jan 4 2010 0:08:50
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Excellent!
I will be in touch
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mangycur
member
Joined: Sep '07
Posts: 344offline
Posted 3 years ago
Mon Jan 4 2010 14:42:33
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Prep 4 Bedbugs is a company in New York and they will send 2 technitians to your place for $100 per hour
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